- South Korea initiated Pfizer and BioNTech developed COVID-19 vaccine rollout for the general public aged 75 and older.
- The blockchain aspect of the app will prevent anyone from forging fake evidence.
- Vaccine passports’ adoption witnessed divided decisions across several countries.
As part of their new health surveillance measures, South Korea has decided to issue blockchain-based COVID-19 vaccine passports or ‘Green Pass’ to certify forthcoming vaccinated/immunized citizens. With this, the nation wishes to revive cross-border travel, all while keeping the risks of infection under control.
Official Announcement of the Launch
On Thursday, during a government meeting with Reuters in Seoul, South Korea’s Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun officially announced the launch of a mobile app, enabling international travelers to record and show digital proof of vaccination, sometime this month. The East Asian nation also recently initiated Pfizer and BioNTech developed COVID-19 vaccine rollout for the general public aged 75 and older. And over 86% of the 3.5 million population in that age group already plans to get the shot.
Technological Support to the Project
The blockchain aspect of the app will prevent anyone from forging fake evidence, affirming to have received a jab. Chung, in his statement, mentioned the ‘Green Pass’ will enable only the vaccinated population to experience their recovering daily lives. It will be considered certifiable proof and will also permit international visits to overseas travelers.
Across the Globe Opinion on the Matter
Vaccine passports’ adoption ignited controversy across several countries. Where China, Israel, and a few other countries readily accepted the norm, and the European Union, apparently grudgingly under the pressure of tourism-dependent southern countries, seems ready to accept it; the concept in many other countries, like the United Kingdom, is still facing strong opposition.
Yet, despite what the final decision is, it’s apparent that like South Korea, the U.K. has also realized the potential of blockchain technology to manage complex challenges of the vaccination procedure. Additionally, the Brazilian government revealed its plans to apply the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain framework to keep track of its vaccinated population.
With a background in journalism, Ritika Sharma has worked with many reputed media firms focusing on general news such as politics and crime. She joined The Coin Republic as a reporter for crypto, and found a great passion for cryptocurrency, Web3, NFTs and other digital assets. She spends a lot of time researching and delving deeper into these concepts around the clock, and is a strong advocate for women in STEM.